Some of you have seen my Italian Steel beauty, in addition to my Plastic Fantastic Bianchi.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v734/genejockey/BatFinal1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v734/genejockey/DSCF0126.jpg

The Battaglin is built from Columbus MAX tubes, designed for big, strong guys (think Magnus Backstedt), so it's also good for big FAT guys like me. BUT it weighs about 4# more than the Bianchi. After lifting the Bianchi, the Battaglin feels like a boat anchor.

Back on Saturday the 12th, I road the Battaglin up OLH, just to see how fast I could do it. 28:53. Not TOO bad for an old fat guy on a 22# bike.

So last Saturday, I was riding the Bianchi, all 18# of Carbon-Fiberry goodness, and decided to try IT on OLH. I figured it's not a fair fight, the Bianchi is 4# lighter, and it's got a low gear of 30x25, which is WAY lower than the Battaglin's 39x27.

28:54. The same time, within ONE SECOND.

I guess it really ISN'T the bike!

Hey that's still a really good time. At least you made it in less than 30 minutes. Better time than I do on my Seven.

It's still 4 minutes off my best time ever - but that was 8 years and 30# ago! :rolleyes:

Interesting avatar - I've seen you, and that looks nothing like you! :D

The reason steel bikes go just as fast as carbon is because STEEL IS REAL.. fast. My two bikes have about the same, 3.5 lbs difference in weight. Great steel frames ride light.

30tooth compact double? I thought they were usually 34 tooth, and triples were 30.
Maybe you just are better at riding in taller gear.

Hey that's still a really good time. At least you made it in less than 30 minutes. Better time than I do on my Seven.

Ron...

Your avatar is too hawt... It's very distracting... I can't read your posts...

mmm

The reason steel bikes go just as fast as carbon is because STEEL IS REAL.. fast. My two bikes have about the same, 3.5 lbs difference in weight. Great steel frames ride light.

ALL HAIL! Steel is definitely real.

http://static.metal-archives.com/images/1/1/3/3/1133.jpg

The Bianchi looks like a 50/34 setup. A 39x27 is 38 gear inches and a 34x25 is 35.7. OLH has a few steep sections but for the most part is gradual. A better test would be to climb Moody and then up Page Mill to Gate 4 since that is some significant sections of ugly pitches.

S
So last Saturday, I was riding the Bianchi, all 18# of Carbon-Fiberry goodness, and decided to try IT on OLH. I figured it's not a fair fight, the Bianchi is 4# lighter, and it's got a low gear of 30x25, which is WAY lower than the Battaglin's 39x27.

28:54. The same time, within ONE SECOND.

I guess it really ISN'T the bike!

3.5 lbs is real, but it's not a very large difference- you have to take into account the entire weight of you plus bike plus gear (A full bottle weighs about 2 lbs)... 3.5 lbs out of an all-up weight of 200 lbs would only be 1.75%.

Having a taller gear could encourage you to go just a little harder and make up the difference.

30tooth compact double? I thought they were usually 34 tooth, and triples were 30.
Maybe you just are better at riding in taller gear.

OOPS! You're right, it IS a 34, not a 30. Cripes that'd be quite a jump from a 50 tooh big ring, wouldn't it?

[QUOTE=kb5ql;7111102]ALL HAIL! Steel is definitely real.

That will make a great head badge for my new line of steel bikes. 5 year wait. Only because it will take me at least 5 years to learn how to make one single frame.

I've read that the advent of cheap Carbon Fiber bikes made in Taiwan has pretty much killed the Italian steel frame makers. There are a few holdouts, of course (Pegoretti), but the rest are pretty much toast. It's sad, but inevitable, I suppose. I think the Columbus tubesets of the 1990s were pretty much the zenith of steel for bikes, and they were pretty fantastic, but you can't make a rideable steel frame that weighs 2#.

But Bostic's right - good steel doesn't ride heavy. And while the Bianchi handles really nicely, the Battaglin corners so much better, it's almost like IT is doing it, not me.

I've read that the advent of cheap Carbon Fiber bikes made in Taiwan has pretty much killed the Italian steel frame makers. There are a few holdouts, of course (Pegoretti), but the rest are pretty much toast. It's sad, but inevitable, I suppose. I think the Columbus tubesets of the 1990s were pretty much the zenith of steel for bikes, and they were pretty fantastic, but you can't make a rideable steel frame that weighs 2#.

But Bostic's right - good steel doesn't ride heavy. And while the Bianchi handles really nicely, the Battaglin corners so much better, it's almost like IT is doing it, not me.

I have a CF bike and have about 6,000 miles on it, but most all my riding now is on Columbus tubed steel bikes with 10 speed drivetrains.

I'm not very fast anyway, and I like the ride qualities of a good steel frame. I switched from CF to steel early last year, and will likely never go back to CF.

I'm enjoying my heavy steel Bike Friday. 24lbs. and a bear to bring up Page Mill, but it works. Plus it fits in my trunk.

I always enjoy reading threads like this; it helps to kill my weight weenie side that has a bad habit of wasting money.

Did you weigh your water bottles? could be the difference..;)

I'm taking my Gazelle out on the Tuesday night hammerfest tonight. It's probably two or three pounds heavier than my carbon bike, but it shouldn't be an issue on a flat, cross-wind ride.

Did you weigh your water bottles? could be the difference..;)

Ha Ha! A salient point!

I didn't, but they were the same - 1 empty, 1 full. I always drink whatever's in Bottle 1 before starting either OLH or Kings, because I can't drink while climbing - I need my mouth free to gasp for air like a fish on the dock. :eek:

Interesting avatar - I've seen you, and that looks nothing like you! :D

That's because your glasses keep fogging up!

I've seen the Italian beauty in person... it can keep up because it's so dang puuurrdddyy!!! :thumb: